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"Today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation. It’s time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore America’s place as a world leader in science and technology.” ~ U.S. President Barack Obama ~
On the 13th May, 2009, Dr. Kenneth Chern gave an inspiring speech in Murdoch University. He talked about the new U.S. Administration’s science team, the priorities of the Administration in science and technological innovation – broadband networks, health IT, science education, new clean energy sources, new generation manufacturing technologies - and how the U.S. and Australia can continue to deepen their scientific cooperation.
"In reading about the IEEE, what struck me most is that this association, your association, is devoted to the application of electrical and electronic engineering in the service of human kind", said Dr Chern.
Dr Chern shared with the audience the U.S. Administration's vision to rekindle America's leadership role in science and innovation. Outstanding scientists have been appointed to lead the commitment to science, and the renewed focus on collaboration and shared learning will further strengthen a U.S. - Australia science relationship that is already thriving.
Current Challenges
Speaking to the United States National Academy of Sciences on April 27th, President Obama said: "At such a difficult moment, there are those who say we cannot afford to invest in science; that support for research is somehow a luxury at a moment defined by necessities. I fundamentally disagree. Science is more essential for our prosperity, our security, our health, our environment, and our quality of life than it has ever been."
In the United States, we have seen declines in science funding and performance over several decades. Today, the U.S. Administration plans to devote more than three percent of U.S. GDP to research and development.
- The first commitment is to basic science and applied research.
- Second, we have made a commitment to developing a 21st-Century clean energy economy.
- A third challenge is using science to address the shortcomings of the U.S. health system.
Collaboration between U.S. and Australia
Scientific collaboration between the United States and Australia is thriving. Organic relationships between individual Australian and American scientists, and among Australian and American universities, are numerous and productive. Dr Chern pointed out that several examples of intellectual exchanges between the two countries via visiting professors and international scholarship for students.
And, at the government-to-government level, the United States and Australia have a bilateral Science and Technology Agreement which guides a range of cooperative science activities between institutions like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and NASA, on the one hand, and CSIRO, federal departments, and other Australian counterparts, on the other.
See full details: Event Announocement Full Transcript Related links http://perth.usconsulate.gov/perth/programs/2009.html#ieee http://emunews.murdoch.edu.au/science7.htm http://www.sciencewa.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&
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